Improvement in cartridge-loading implements



T. L. sTunTEvANT.4

Cartridge-Loading lmpvlments.

Fog.

Fig.

IT SES. I TL Shu-leren?.

S my Patented oct.13,1874.

UNTTED STATES PATENT GEFIoE. A

THOMAS L. STURTEVANT, OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT` IN CARTRIDGE-LOADING IMPLEMENTS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 155,994. dated October 13, 1874; application led May 19, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, THOMAS L. STURTEVANT, of Framingham, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, have invented certain -Improvements in Implements for Loading Cartridges, of which the following is a specification:

These improvements relate directly to t-he ralnmer of implements for loading cartridgeshells, and to an extractor and concentrator7 or funnel employed with such rammer; and these improvements will be found to consist in the combination, with the rammer, of a number of implements, and in the construction of the shell-extractor, as will be hereinafter explained.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 3 is a transverse section, of my invention. Fig. 4 is a View of the screw-driver and its attachments.

In these drawings, A represents a hollow straight tube, of about ve-eighths inch in diameter and three inches long, more or less, these being the dimensions of rammers of the class of cartridge-loading implements to which my improvements appertain, such tube being closed at one end, as shown at B, to form a solid abutment for ramming home the wads, and at the other end closed by a knob, C, which is attached to it by a bayonet-connection or other suitable appliance, in order that it may be readily removed. The interior of the tube A is a receptacle for several instrument-s, which are of use to Sportsmen, and by employing a tube whereof to produce the rammer, I am enabled to provide these instruments for a sportsmans use without any additional bulk or inconvenience. In making the tube available for this purpose and to carry out one important object of my present improvements, I secure to the inner end of the knob C a screw-driver, D, of such width and length as to be easily received within the tube A, and the outer or smaller end of this screwdriver may, if desirable, be pierced with a hole, a, to encompass the pin of pin-lire cartridges, and enable the shells of the latter to be readily withdrawn from the barrel of a fire-arm, or to constitute a wrench for other purposes. To one side of the screw-driver D I pivot a wrench, E, which will be found available for removing or applying the nut used for securing the exploding pin or anvil in cartridge-shells and for other useful purposes; while to the opposite side and outer end of the said screwdriver I swivel, at their outer ends, two hooks,

b and c, one of which, viz., b, is of steel, and is intended for extracting wads from cartridgeshells should it become necessary to do so for any reason, the angle'of the spur of this hook, with respect to its shank, being such as to take into the substance of the wad to such a depth as to retain a Iirm hold upon it, and enable it to be withdrawn and used again, and not to pierce entirely through the wad, which would destroy it.

The hook c is of brass or other comparatively-soft metal, and is intended to remove headless cartridge-shells without injury to the barrel.

It frequently happens, in attempting to extract spent shells from the barrel of sportingguns, that the head or base of the shell is torn oli, and as a result no hold can be conveniently had upon it, and it is with difficulty removed. Should the head of a shell be torn oft' the hook c constitutes a ready and efcient instrument by which to withdraw the body of the shell,

and in using it it is to be passed into the tube and hooked upon the inner end or edge of the latter, by which a rm hold is obtained and the tube removed.

My purpose in making the hook c of brass or some metal softer than steel is to avoid injury to the barrel, as otherwise it would scar and deface the latter, for the reason that it comes in contact with its innersurface in removing the shell.

The extractor, to which allusion has before been made as embodying one feature of my present improvements, and to operate in connection with the rammer A, is shown at G as a circular ring, a', having a triangularly-arranged series of hooks, f f f, applied to one side to seize hold of and extract a shell from the barrel.

My invention in this extractor will be seen to consist in creating upon the upper part of its interior periphery an interior concentric rabbet or annular notch, g, the purpose of which is to receive the periphery of the head of a shell, and protect the center of the latter,

or the cap or explosive fulminate contained in it, from danger of accidental explosion, which might occur if placed upon a flat surface.

The shell in loading is placed bottom down and with the edge only of its head resting in the rabbet g; consequently the remaining portion of such head is elevated above the bottom of the ring.

These improvements will be found to further consist in combining with the rammer A a concentrator or wad-director or funnel, as it is variously termed, such concentrator being shown at H as a short tube with a slightlyaring mouth, which tube, when not in use, is to encompass the rammer, as shown in Fig.'2, from whence it is to be detached when needed.

By stowing the concentrator H upon the rammer, as stated, it is always at hand when needed, danger of losing or misplacing it is avoided, and it occupies practically no space.

I claim- 1. The knob or handle carrying the screwdriver or other suitable devices, in combination with the hollow case, the whole adapted for use as a rammer, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. The combination, with the rammer, of the concentrator, funnel, or wad-director H, adapted to slide upon the rammer, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

T. L. STURTEVANT.

Witnesses:

F. GURTrs, W. E. BoAnDMAN. 

